Magnesium is an important mineral, playing a role in over 300 chemical reactions in the body. It helps with muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure and supporting the immune system. Magnesium is required for the production and stability of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound that provides energy to muscle cells. It also has a key role in converting the glucose in food into energy. It may therefore help to reduce fatigue and exhaustion.
Magnesium is essential for healthy bones and dental health. Lack of magnesium has been linked with osteoporosis in women after menopause [Capozzi 2020].
Magnesium supplementation has also been found to be effective in the prevention of dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and menstrual migraine and in the prevention of climacteric symptoms [Parazzini 2017].
Magnesium is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This may be because magnesium plays an important role in glucose control and insulin metabolism.
Supplementation of magnesium has been found to reduce anxiety, stress [Boyle 2017] and depression [Szewczyk 2008]. This is likely due to its role in production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the nervous system and controls our mood, feelings of well-being and happiness.
Magnesium also regulates the secretion of melatonin, which can improve sleep quality. Lack of magnesium has been associated with lower quality sleep [Zeng 2014].
Magnesium also contributes to the proper functioning of memory. It has been found that an increase in brain magnesium improves learning and memory functions [Slutsky 2010].
